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Dear President Aliyev: The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply disturbed by the recent wave of journalist imprisonments in Azerbaijan. With at least six journalists currently behind bars, Azerbaijan is now among the top 10 global jailers of the press, ahead of Uzbekistan and just behind Ethiopia, according to CPJ research. This crackdown comes in the run-up to Eurovision, the international song contest that Baku is hosting in May, which will gather journalists from more than 40 participating countries and fix the world's eyes on Azerbaijan.

New York, February 22, 2012--Anar Bayramli, Baku-based
correspondent for Iranian broadcaster Sahar TV and news agency Fars, has been
imprisoned for two months pending trial over drug charges. The Committee to
Protect Journalists has determined the charges are fabricated and calls on
authorities in Azerbaijan to release him immediately.